FULL ARTICLE

Dubai - Dubai-based airline Flydubai has been severely affected by the 737 MAX flight ban and the carrier now considers replacing its remaining orders for the 737 MAX series jets.

After worldwide groundings, Flydubai had to withdraw its 16 737 MAX planes (13 737 MAX 8, and three 737MAX 9) from the service. The company has more than 200 MAX jets in its order book with Boeing, including 117 737 MAX 8, 65 737 MAX 9 and 50 737 MAX 10

Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, the boss of the middle-eastern airline, said he was looking at alternatives such as the Airbus A320neo.

“I have to look into a similar type of aircraft, let’s say with the Airbus,” Al Maktoum told CNBC at the Arabian Travel Market trade show in Dubai.

Al Maktoum also said that he was expecting more pressure on the U.S. Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) to be more open while certifying Boeing's jetliners.

Emirate's regional partner Flydubai is an all-Boeing operator with more than 60 Boeing 737 in the fleet.